COld Feet and water safety

The Tempest jacket pant combo is pretty amazing. They were tested by kayak fishermen from Norcal to Socal and have come through with a pretty amazing product. I think as long as your drytop has some kind of neoprene in the bottom area it should give you a real nice waterproof seal. The great thing about this pairing is that you can use the pants only when it gets warmer.

Z

  And the price for the pants is pretty reasonable, considering they have the attached sox to keep ones feets dry.  Generally one dresses for the water temp, not the air temp.  And the Sound was in middle 40's until June last year, but you could go nekkid beneath the Tropos when it gets hot........

Yesterday I tested some little heat pads on my tootsies while I was in cold water and they worked really well. You just stick them on your socks and then into your drysuit and they generate some heat. While it's not roasting I found that it doesn't really have to be. They kept my feet from being chilled and never got numb. You can double duty it and put one on the bottom of your toes and one on top for people who have really cold feet. It'd probably be a pain to do every time you fish but on those cold days... GET SOME!!!

Z

Those hand/feet warmers are the bomb to scoring WAF points.  I usually keep a the glove box stocked of the wife's rig for when she has to sit in the cold breeze during soccer or softball games.  Just picked up a set of handlebar boots for her ATV and there is a pocket inside that holds a hand warmer.   She's happy, I'm happy.

As for the Kokatat dry pants, would these seal up and prevent water better than the breathable chest waders?  My waders have neoprene booties attached and seem to keep my feet warm.  I have used the waders in the surf for perch fishing  in late March, and my knees got a bit cold (mostly because I was wearing shorts under them). 

I can see the biggest advantage of the dry pants over waders being that you can get out of them to piss alot easier. Probably don't even need to remove the PFD.

Speaking of pit stops--made the mistake last week of drinking a 20oz bottle of vitamin water and a big cuppa Joe before paddling at PNP, had to pull up on shore twice to use the biffy.  Haven't figgered out a safe  and effective way to take a leak in the kayak yet, as the Farmer John wetsuit ain't got a zipper.  The pants will allow one to moon the appreciate crowd on the shore....

If anyone's gonna get a drysuit, get a relief zipper. Sooooo worth it.

Z

Yesterday I tested some little heat pads on my tootsies while I was in cold water and they worked really well. You just stick them on your socks and then into your drysuit and they generate some heat. While it's not roasting I found that it doesn't really have to be. They kept my feet from being chilled and never got numb. You can double duty it and put one on the bottom of your toes and one on top for people who have really cold feet. It'd probably be a pain to do every time you fish but on those cold days... GET SOME!!!

Z

Nice, I'm gettin' me some of those...